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My Mother’s Day WishBy Ann Scott, First Lady of Florida

05/08/11

A mother's heart always has room to love a child. One of the greatest joys of my life is being a mother. I raised two lovely daughters who now are grown up and married. It is important for me to be there to laugh and cry with my daughters. I understand how they needed me to help them through the ups and downs of childhood so one day they would become independent young adults working to achieve their dreams.

We celebrate Mother's Day to honor all those who nurtured and raised us with love and always found time to do the big and small things a child needs. Through Florida’s Explore Adoption program, you can meet Florida’s children in foster care who need a mom. Maybe that mom is you.

In every generation, mothers have committed themselves to adopting children who need stability, nurturing, love and permanency. In every community in Florida today, children in foster care - particularly teens, sibling groups and children with medical needs – are available for adoption. You might have met them already and didn't know it. They might be in school with your children, attending your church or temple, or playing on your son’s or daughter's sports team.

The Governor and I recently hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for children in foster care and National Guard families. I spent several hours on a Saturday afternoon visiting with children and teenagers in foster care who are looking for a mother who can be part of their lives every day. They hope that a mom will come to them through adoption. My heart was touched by the beauty of these children and the joy they expressed throughout the afternoon. They could forget their struggles and just have fun hunting eggs, meeting the Easter bunny and rambling through the tree-shaded grounds. I felt inspired by these children who wish for a mom and just won’t give up on that dream.

I hope mothers throughout Florida will look inside their hearts this Mother's Day to find room for more children. Thank you to all mothers for what you do for Florida’s children every day.

First Lady Ann Scott is the mother of two daughters, Allison (28) and Jordan (26). Visit Explore Adoption at www.adoptflorida.org or call 1-800-96-ADOPT to meet Florida children in foster care who need a mother.